Canada: Urgent Action Needed to Demand an Immediate & Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza

Campaign Updates

December 15, 2023

It has now been more than two months of unyielding and relentless bombing over the people of Gaza. Palestinians are desperately trying to flee constant bombing with no safe place to retreat to, while simultaneously facing forced starvation, dehydration and increasing diseases from the illegal siege.

Over the past two months, more than 180,000 Canadians emailed our government officials to demand a ceasefire and humanitarian access to Gaza.

As of Dec. 12th, Canada has finally joined the international chorus calling for a ceasefire. While this is a necessary first step, concrete and immediate action is imperative to ensure the safety and survival of the people of Gaza.

The Canadian government must use all diplomatic channels and everything within its means to enforce a ceasefire and ensure humanitarian access and assistance to Gaza.

Since the violence began, over 18,000 people have been killed, over 49000 injured, over 1.75 million displaced and thousands upon thousands of children orphaned. Shockingly, in Gaza, a child is killed every ten minutes, prompting the UN Secretary-General to grimly dub it a “graveyard for children.”

The time for Canada to decisively intervene and take tangible measures to ensure that the safety and well being of Palestinians is now. It is not just a moral imperative but an urgent humanitarian and legal necessity. The situation demands immediate and impactful action to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.

December 8, 2023

Gaza has now endured over two months of intense Israeli bombardment, subjected to destruction, civilian terror and recurrent breaches of international humanitarian law.

UN experts are warning against ethnic cleansing and even imminent genocide in Gaza. The disproportionate use of force, indiscriminate attacks, ongoing blockade, starvation diet, and mass killing of civilians in the most densely-populated place on earth has put a target on every innocent Palestinian civilian.

Palestinian authorities report over 17,000 + deaths, including 7,000 children, and more than 46,000 injuries—horrific figures that are rising daily. There is nowhere safe left in Gaza. Hospitals, places of worship, and schools — all protected civilian infrastructure in international humanitarian law — have been considered legitimate targets of violence.

Our elected officials need to do more and MUST take a stance for justice, humanity and the protection of innocent lives. Canada has a legal obligation under international law to speak out against violations of international law. Yet, Canada refuses to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Silence is complicity.

A temporary truce is nothing to celebrate when the killing resumed just days later. We are calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as the only humanitarian solution to this immediate crisis. Only a permanent ceasefire will allow for the beginning of recovery efforts and prevent the suffering, starvation, dehydration, and death that we will continue to witness in the days and weeks to come.

Virtually no aid is now going into Gaza as the conditions required to deliver aid do not exist. Whether by starvation, dehydration or carpet bombing, every life in Gaza is on the brink of death.

Enough is enough. Canada must exhaust every means in its power to call for an immediate permanent ceasefire and an end to the bombings in Gaza.

November 13, 2023

This past weekend saw the intense bombardment of hospitals across the Gaza Strip, from Al Shifa, to Al-Rantisi children’s hospital, Al Quds, and Al Awda — the only provider of maternity services in northern Gaza. In these healthcare facilities, medical personnel, vulnerable patients seeking life-saving care, and tens of thousands of internally displaced persons seeking shelter have been battling immense fear and inhumane levels of violence.

Since October 7, WHO has recorded 137 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, resulting in 521 people killed and 686 injured. The targeting of hospitals and healthcare personnel is egregious and prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Healthcare personnel in Gaza have courageously put aside their personal needs to be at the forefront of providing medical care and comfort to their patients. Nevertheless, at least 190 of these brave frontline healthcare workers have been killed.

Despite these horrific attacks on civilian infrastructure, Canada continues to refuse to call for an immediate and full ceasefire.

The pleas of civilians in Gaza are being repeatedly ignored, as the international community stands by and watches bombs rain down on innocent people. For over 30 consecutive days, international laws have been violated without any substantial calls for action or accountability.

Human life is sacred. Canada must exhaust every means in its power to call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the bombings in Gaza.

October 25, 2023

Your emails and relentless advocacy are working: Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Joly – the two main targets of our emails – have just yesterday pledged their support for a “humanitarian pause.” This is the direct impact of all of you demanding action from your elected officials. While a humanitarian pause is certainly a step in the right direction, this is still not enough.

We continue to call for a full, permanent ceasefire, immediately.

People in Gaza cannot afford to wait. A pause will not end the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, and certainly will not ease the destruction and death that will follow once it is lifted.

The scale of destruction in Gaza is now enormous. A third of Gaza’s hospitals have closed or are almost completely out of supplies. People are queuing for hours just to get a bit of bread, as food runs out. Even finding clean potable water has become an almost impossible task for many, forcing parents to give their children salty, dirty water. Over 1 million people have fled their homes and are in desperate need of safe shelter.

We call on the Canadian Government to urge all parties to establish guaranteed entry and continued access to humanitarian aid. This must go hand in hand with a ceasefire.

Aid can only be delivered safely if there is a ceasefire. As long as the bombing goes on indiscriminately it remains extremely difficult and dangerous to deliver aid. Many humanitarian workers have already been killed, while many more are trying to deliver aid at the same time as being displaced from their homes.

We affirm, in the strongest possible terms, that allowing aid in is simply not enough. Human life is sacred. Canada must exhaust every means in its power to call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the bombings in Gaza.

October 19, 2023

A news report from Wednesday, October 18 stated that an initial 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid may be allowed into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. However, it is not yet clear when the trucks will be allowed in, nor whether more aid will be allowed in after the initial 20 trucks.

20 trucks of aid is nowhere near enough. The scale of destruction in Gaza is now enormous. Hospitals have closed or almost completely out of supplies. People are queuing for hours just to get a bit of bread, as food runs out. Even finding water has become an almost impossible task for many, forcing parents to give their children salty, dirty water. Nearly 1 million people have fled their homes and are desperate for shelter.

We call on the Canadian Government to urge all parties to establish guaranteed entry and continued access to humanitarian aid. This must go hand in hand with a ceasefire.

We affirm in the strongest possible terms, that allowing aid in is simply not enough. Human life is sacred. Canada must exhaust every means in its power to call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the bombings in Gaza.

October 17, 2023

Canadian leaders must take action NOW to ensure an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridor to Gaza.

The scenes from today's bombing of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza are horrific. Over 500 are reported dead, many of whom are displaced women and children simply seeking refuge and sanctuary from the violence. This atrocity is a result of the international community's failure to protect civilian lives.

For days, civilians in Gaza have warned that nowhere is safe and that hospitals, homes, and school shelters are under attack. Their pleas have been repeatedly ignored, and the international community has stood by as bombs rain down on innocent people and international laws are violated.

The situation is getting worse every minute. Canada and our allies must demand an immediate end to this violence and any further civilian suffering.

October 16, 2023

Over the past 3 days, over 40,000 Canadians have joined the Access to Aid campaign, signing email petitions and calling on the federal government to take action to secure an immediate humanitarian corridor for the delivery of vital aid into Gaza, as well as an immediate end to the current escalations.

As of Monday October 16, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has now publicly stated that "Canada is calling for unimpeded humantarian access and humanitarian corridors so that essential aid like food, fuel and water can be delivered to civilians in Gaza."

While this statement is an important step, it must be followed with action from the Canadian government. We are calling on Canada to work with our allies to pursue all diplomatic channels to ensure the protection of civilians. Canada has a duty to uphold international humanitarian law, and must hasten their efforts to protect the lives of civilians and respond to this catatrophic humanitairian crisis.

It only takes 15 seconds to send an email and add your voice. Help us call for the creation of a humanitarian corridor NOW as well as an immediate ceasefire and end to the escalations.

If you've already sent an email, we also urge you to call and meet with your MP's office to voice your concern and urge them to take immediate action!

October 13, 2023

As humanitarian organizations, we are horrified by the escalations of violence in recent days and strongly condemns any and all attacks against civilians. With the humanitarian crisis spiraling out of control, it is absolutely critical that aid is allowed to reach all civilians in need.

Add your voice now and urge Canada to take action to secure an immediate humanitarian corridor for the delivery of vital aid into Gaza, as well as an immediate end to the current escalations.

We are gravely concerned by the escalating humanitarian crisis that is causing widespread suffering among civilians – especially women and children.

Access to vital and life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians must not be impeded under any circumstances.

Together with the UN, WFP, Norwegian Refugee Council and other international agencies, we join the chorus in calling upon our Canadian government to urge all parties to create a humanitarian corridor, in order for life-saving humanitarian aid to reach civilians without delay.

Canada has a duty to uphold international humanitarian law, and must not turn its back on vulnerable civilians.

Take action with us NOW.

What is happening in Gaza?

Gaza especially is facing catastrophic humanitarian consequences, as the crippling and total blockade means a population of over 2.2 million people are without access to food, medicine, fuel and aid. No aid is currently being allowed into Gaza. UN experts have described this worsening situation as “collective punishment,” and have condemned "the withholding of essential supplies such as food, water, electricity and medicines.”

Food supplies and fuel are running low. Gaza’s only power plant has already shut down as a result. Hospitals full of injured children are running out of power and medicine, and sewage is spilling into the streets as sanitation infrastructure is damaged. UN experts have further stated, “Such actions [total siege] will precipitate a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where its population is now at inescapable risk of starvation.”